No matter how hard I try I can never get the trees to move.
No matter how hard I try I can never get the trees to move.
"So long and thanks for all the fish."~The Dolphins
The weather cleared and I finally got out and hung the XLC again. This time I added my Thermarest pad and was able to get a lot more comfortable. The trees are exactly 20' apart and try as I might, I could not move them closer. So am I getting close to hanging this thing right or am I being too picky.
If it was me I'd try to get those straps up much higher. I've hung in my yard off a power pole and the kids (alright, I play on it too) swingset about 21' apart and I climb to get the straps as high as possible, somewhere close to 10'
You might try the foot even a little higher than the head.
Those trees still look pretty far apart to me. Try to find a set that are a little closer together. With practice you will be better at eyeballing the distance, but I still use the 4-6 paces rule for confidence.
Alternatively, as others have said, you can raise the straps further up the tree. Even at the ideal 5 paces I still put my straps as high as I can reach. (tip toes)
"Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws." -Plato
20 feet is a bit long. You may need a ladder! 13-16 would be ideal for the XLC imho.
- I'd hang the Head-end strap Height according to the ultimate hang calculator.
- Next I'd set the length of the Head-end strap (and the small loop) according to the ultimate hang calculator.
- Then, I'd set the foot-end strap Length the same as the Head.
- Finally I'd hang the foot-end strap one foot higher than the head end.
enter the hammock and squirm til comfy....maybe adjust the footend strap length a bit longer, if needed.
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"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.
Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.
The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy,
while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn." — John Muir
Thanks for the info folks. Since these are the only two trees in my yard, I'll have to make a day trip to one of the local WMA's or somewhere to practice. I have hung my hammock as high as I can reach at other times but never climbed to get it higher even though it looked like having the straps higher would be a good thing. I am really looking forward to getting the set up procedures down and sleeping in the Bird. I can tell just from the few minutes I napped the other day, it is going to be so much better than laying on the ground.
Try putting a little hook on a broom handle and push your straps up that way before you load the hammock. Watch you don't damage your straps with the hook though. Since your in the yard anyway. Or use a hiking pole if you use them. That way you would get practice for the trail.
In my experience with the XLC, the foot end does need to be a lot higher than the head end (12+ in). Try Adjusting it so that the foot end is closer to the tree than you have in the picture. Get the foot as high as possible then adjust the head down. From the Pic it looks like the head end is >30 degrees.
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and of course There are A LOT of chickens in China.
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One tip for getting the foot end higher than the head is when in the woods, look for a slope between the trees. If the base of the foot end tree is a foot higher than the base of the head end tree you can hang the straps the same distance from the ground at both ends!
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